mark.waltz "Are we in a time warp?" condom commercial director Bruno Kirby asks 20 minutes into this film where mine worker Robert Lindsay (best known for his Tony Award Winning role in the British musical "Me and My Girl") goes into a Chaplin impression during a modern day talent show. Kirby's question is apropos because I was thinking the same question. During that first 20 minutes, Lindsay danced in a coal miner's locker room to "The Continental", sung with a bloody nose to "Isn't It Romantic?" and taken on the entire score to "Singin' in the Rain". Lindsay, who scored fame performing "The Lambeth Walk" on the Tony Awards, is certainly more of a musical talent than Steve Martin was in the similarly nostalgic "Pennies From Heaven" (at least set during the time its music was a part of), but his vehicle for film stardom is a puzzlement, albeit a sometimes entertaining one.While there's no doubting Lindsay's talent, he's about 25 years too late for musical film stardom. His dance number with Anne Bancroft (in a supporting role as a former MGM chorus girl who appeared in the movie version of "Silk Stockings") is filled with pratfalls that seem a bit too forced at times. Being made prior to the resurrection of the Broadway musical, this was doomed to failure, especially with such a weak narrative. It is all well intended but a good idea being pitched through a storyboard with a talented leading man promised doesn't mean success with poor execution. It reaches its nadir with a balletic version of Mama Cass's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" on a gazebo soundstage that resembles the film soundstage in the movie of "Xanadu" where Olivia Newton John and Michael Beck roller-skated to "Suddenly".

Lee Eisenberg In 1969, Carl Reiner released "The Comic", in which Dick Van Dyke played a silent-era entertainer whose career gets ruined by sound. Reiner puts a different spin on the idea in "Bert Rigby, You're a Fool". This one casts Robert Lindsay as the title character, a striking miner in a small town in England. The town isn't what it once was, but Rigby has always loved the old-time entertainers. When he gets the chance to be a Hollywood star, he naturally takes it, but things don't go quite as expected...or do they? It was very interesting how they mixed wry British humor with occasional musical numbers (and some straightforward slapstick). I would never expect that in a movie, but they pull it off perfectly. Also, in the scenes with Anne Bancroft, it was good to see how they didn't bleach people's teeth completely white back then. A very good movie. I guess that we can always trust Carl Reiner to turn out something good.Also starring Robbie Coltrane (that's right: Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies!), Bruno Kirby and Corbin Berenson.

dglink For those of us who saw Robert Lindsay on Broadway in "Me and My Girl," his dazzling turn in this film is no surprise. The only surprise is the failure to see his career as a song and dance man take off as it should have. Without Lindsay or with someone of lesser talents, "Bert Rigby" would be a rather thin piece of work, mildly amusing, pleasant, and forgettable. However, every moment that Lindsay is on the screen, which is fortunately most of the time, the film is captivating and is a loving tribute to classic Hollywood musicals. The star's highlight is a tour-de-force mini reprise of the film "Singin' in the Rain" with seltzer bottle and umbrella for the title tune. Lindsay's dancing and physical comedy throughout are outstanding and make this a must-see for his fans and for those who want to see a major musical comedy talent that somehow slipped away.

Brad K. I was flipping through the channels on TV one night and stumbled onto this movie at the beginning. It looked kind of stupid, but I decided to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. This movie is funny throughout. Robert Lindsay (Divorcing Jack) stars as Bert Rigby a man trying to get his big break in show business. He always seems to get an opportunity, but have it not work out. The movie is kind of a fantasy comedy, with a lot of musical numbers. It is funny, Lindsay is great in the lead. Anne Bancroft (Home for the Holidays) gives a very funny supporting performance. Corbin Berenson (Major League) gives a good performance as a big Hollywood star. I recommend it.